Half Dome. Photo: NPS / Cindy Jacoby
- Entrance
- $35 per car
- Nonresident fee
- $100 per person, 16 and over
- Park annual pass
- $70, U.S. residents
- Payment
- Card only, no cash
Work out the cost for your group
About Yosemite
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.
Things to do
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Go Skiing at Badger Pass
The Badger Pass Ski Area is open from mid-December through March (weather and conditions permitting).
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Wildlife Safety in Yosemite
Yosemite National Park supports more than 400 species of vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
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Become a Yosemite Junior Ranger
Kids can become a Yosemite Junior Ranger by taking a self-guided handbook with them as they travel around the park and complete the activities that are the best fit for them.
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Hiking in Yosemite
From a short walk to the base of a waterfall to a multi-day hike deep into the Yosemite Wilderness, taking a hike is one of the best ways to experience Yosemite's spectacular scenery.
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Learn Art in the Park
Yosemite has a long history of inspiring visitors to create art.
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Ride a Bike in Yosemite Valley
Cycling is a great way to experience the park and allows you to cover more ground during your time here.
Photos
Upper Yosemite Fall and Merced River in spring Photo: NPS Photo 
Cathedral Peak and Lake in Autumn Photo: NPS / Cindy Jacoby 
Rainbow over Half Dome Photo: NPS / Bob Roney 
Giant Sequoia Trees in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Photo: NPS / Cindy Jacoby 
Yosemite Falls on a Winter Morning Photo: NPS / Cindy Jacoby
Entrance fees
| Type | Price | Valid for | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $35 | 7 days | All year |
| Per person, 16 and over | $20 | 7 days | All year |
The $100 nonresident fee
At 11 parks, each non-U.S. resident aged 16 or older pays a $100 nonresident fee on top of the standard entrance fee, unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
All valid America the Beautiful passes and park-specific annual passes cover entrance fees and nonresident fees for the pass holder and passengers in a private vehicle. The holder must be there.
Official pages call the $100 a per-person fee but do not say how long it lasts. Forum answers say it shares the 7-day entrance window; some tour operators say it is charged per entry. Our totals charge it once per park visit of up to 7 days.
Park annual pass
Annual pass providing free entrance to Yosemite for 12 months from the date of purchase for US citizens and permanent residents.
A park's own annual pass is sold to U.S. citizens and residents only. A U.S. resident who holds one covers everyone in their private vehicle, including nonresident passengers.
Reservations
NPS lists no entry reservation for this park as of October 26, 2026. Campgrounds and tours may still need booking.
Weather and seasons
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)
Hours
Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Getting there
You can drive to Yosemite year-round and enter via Highways 41, 140, and 120 from the west. Tioga Pass Entrance (via Highway 120 from the east) is closed from approximately November through late May or June. Hetch Hetchy is open all year but may close intermittently due to snow. Please note that GPS units do not always provide accurate directions to or within Yosemite.
Campgrounds
- Bridalveil Creek CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Bridalveil Creek Horse CampBook on Recreation.gov
- Camp 4 CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Crane Flat CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Hodgdon Meadow CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Lower Pines CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- North Pines CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Porcupine Flat CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Tamarack Flat CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Tuolumne Meadows CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Tuolumne Meadows Horse CampBook on Recreation.gov
- Upper Pines CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Wawona CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Wawona Horse CampBook on Recreation.gov
- White Wolf CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Yosemite Creek CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
Webcams
- Turtleback Dome & Air Quality
- Merced River at Happy Isles
- El Capitan (live video)
- Half Dome
- El Capitan
- Yosemite High Sierra (live video)
- Yosemite Falls (live video)
- Half Dome (live video)
- Half Dome (live video)
- Badger Pass Ski Area
- Yosemite High Sierra
Visitor centers
- Yosemite Valley Welcome Center
- Wawona Visitor Center at Hill's Studio
- Big Oak Flat Information Station
- Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center
Alerts
- Information: No overnight parking on Tioga & Glacier Point Roads
Parks nearby
Sources
Prices checked by hand against the park's fees page on October 26, 2026 (page last updated January 9, 2026).